Geo Metros now popular??!

[ctaylorzl1]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

Exactly! Everyone thinks they are for fuel economy. It definitely not like it gets an extremely good MPG rating. For that size, it should get much better....

Exactly, I am amazed they are selling so well since the FE numbers for it are decent at best(as compaired to its size of course). The Smart ForTwo, it a "smart car for two" people, not people who want amazing fuel economy. A smart car for two who want exelent fuel economy would be a used Insight! If I wanted exceptional FE, I would not look to a Smart car, I would probablt get a Honda Fit. But thats just my opinion.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Yep, here are three that I'm watching:

No question I would opt for a late 90's Chevy model over the '91 Geos, especially if the difference was only a grand. The early 90's Geos can't be holding together all that well since when Bush Sr. was in office....and replacment parts (especially little things like trim) for econocars over 15 years old are rarely easy to find. That is unless all you find an absolutely pristine 1991 model, or don't care about anything except that "it runz good".

[tomcat_cool17]

I drove from Flint to Kensington to Auburn Hills/Pontiac and back to Flint on Saturday and saw atleast 5 Metro's.

[Butz]

Originally Posted by Ming

We might not have long to wait if this holds true (although what I take away from this article is that they don't want to import it from Europe, but they could build it in Mexico):

GM confirms next Corsa will be built in the U.S.




Due to rising demand for fuel efficient cars in the U.S., carmakers are keen to increase their respective small car lineups in the world’s biggest market. Few are as desperate for the tiny runabouts as the Detroit 3 but things are starting to change. GM is leading the charge with plans to bring the European Corsa to North America for its Saturn range but the strong euro means the car could become too expensive to import.

One solution is for GM to start building the car in the U.S. and latest reports claim that’s exactly what it will do for the next-generation Corsa. “We want the car as a Saturn in the U.S. and we certainly don’t want to import it from Europe,” GM product czar Bob Lutz told Automotive News Europe.

The Corsa is a size larger than the Geo Metro, about the same size as the Aveo.
GM needs to build the Chevy Beat, there should be some car that fits below the Aveo, in dimension and pricing.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by Butz

The Corsa is a size larger than the Geo Metro, about the same size as the Aveo.
GM needs to build the Chevy Beat, there should be some car that fits below the Aveo, in dimension and pricing.

The Metro, Aveo and Corsa are all about the same size and are in the B-segment or Subcompact class.

My fat, 6' tall ass was quite comfortable in the '01 I rented all those years ago.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by tomcat_cool17

I drove from Flint to Kensington to Auburn Hills/Pontiac and back to Flint on Saturday and saw atleast 5 Metro's.

Well I saw my first Moped in I don't know how long on the way to work today here outside of Houston. Drive one of those up where I live and Bubba will get up on your tail with his Ram 4x4. Still, people were giving him ample room with their SUVs and Pickups, and he was riding without a helmet...

Originally Posted by Butz

The Corsa is a size larger than the Geo Metro, about the same size as the Aveo.
GM needs to build the Chevy Beat, there should be some car that fits below the Aveo, in dimension and pricing.

No argument from me - I'm a big supporter of a truly fuel miserly ride in the form of a Beat. Or a next gen Matiz that kinds looks like the Beat. Anything that picks up the mantle of the old Chevy Geo and runs with it. Good styling is a bonus.

I just haven't seen anything yet that confirms we'll get it, despite longstanding rumors that we will.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by Ming

Well I saw my first Moped in I don't know how long on the way to work today here outside of Houston. Drive one of those up where I live and Bubba will get up on your tail with his Ram 4x4. Still, people were giving him ample room with their SUVs and Pickups, and he was riding without a helmet...

Have you been in the city lately? Down in the Montrose/Midtown/River Oaks area Mopeds and Scooters are everywhere.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Have you been in the city lately? Down in the Montrose/Midtown/River Oaks area Mopeds and Scooters are everywhere.

I live up in Magnolia and commute down near Spring . I rarely get downtown.

[montrealvue]

Originally Posted by Butz

The Corsa is a size larger than the Geo Metro, about the same size as the Aveo.
GM needs to build the Chevy Beat, there should be some car that fits below the Aveo, in dimension and pricing.

The Beat or the Corsa would be a great addition to the North American line up if they can average over 35 mpg combined, if not they shouldn't bother. Micro cars sell based on fuel economy and little else.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

I wonder why the Metro XFI gets 43/51 MPG whereas the smart fortwo gets 33/41 MPG....

The Metro is only ~150 lbs lighter and engine technology has increased greatly in the last 15 years.

I think those fuel economy figures of the Metro XFI are based on EPA's old standards.
The Smart Fortwo got 40 MPG city & 45 MPG hwy back in 2007.
These figures were revised in 2008, its now 33 MPG city & 41 MPG hwy.

The standard (non-XFI) 1993 Geo Metro 1.0 manual was rated at 38 MPG city & 45 MPG hwy
The standard 2000 Chevrolet Metro 1.0 manual was rated at 32 MPG city & 41 MPG hwy.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by Butz

GM needs to build the Chevy Beat, there should be some car that fits below the Aveo, in dimension and pricing.

They are going to build the Beat (next Spark/Matiz).
I'm just not sure if there will be a USDM version, I think its main market will be Asia and Europe.

[packagm]

The Metro and its Swift/Firefly siblings were an offspring of the Japanese Suzuki Cultus supermini -- which is still in production today in India and Pakistan in its second generation. Beginning in 1995, North America received a third, dedicated generation that was further developed and refined. This last generation of the Metro-Firefly-Swift that was offered in North America only and was manufactured at CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll Canada.

The Wikipedia article has an interesting section on MANUFACTURE that relates how difficult it was for the companies marketing the little Metro et al toward the end (you can click on the referenced articles there for the source material too). The last Metro's rolled off the assembly line in 2001 and this was when gas was incredibly inexpensive and SUV's started flying out of the showrooms:

CAMI never reached its intended Metro/Firefly/Swift capacity. While at its peak, Canadian Swift/Metro/Firefly production reached more than 100,000 vehicles a year, the number fell to just 32,000 in 2000. In response to the waning popularity of smaller automobiles in the North American markets, Chevrolet/Geo sold only 55,600 Metros in 1997, off from 88,700 the year before. In a 2004 Autoweek article, Osamu Suzuki, chairman of Suzuki, called CAMI "a fishbone in my throat" because of its low production.

Gen 3 of the Metro had been significantly improved structurally. It was the first car to meet the 1997 side impact standards, was significantly stronger torsionally than it's earlier siblings, came with two airbags, etc.. It was the first car offered with DRL's. And yes, it weighed circa 1850 lbs soaking wet.

I"m biased: we own a 1998 Chevrolet Metro: 74,000 miles, 1.3L four cylinder with a five-speed.

The car is enough fun to drive to inspire respect, if not lust -- and a good reminder of the simple joys in life like roll-up windows... and walking around to unlock the car for your wife because it doesn't have keyless. If the weather is nice, I commute on my motorcycle... if the weather isn't nice, I drive the Metro.

Lifetime mileage average is 42 mpg -- without too much trying.

[silvergoat2k6]

I once owned a '95 Metro...that thing was a complete death trap. I'll take my chances on my motorcycle, thank you...at least it's quick enough to get out of its' own way and get me 45 mpg while doing so.

[aveoSS]

I'm sorry, I like the fuel efficient small cars, but I can't read this thread without thinking of that scene from "Homer Loves Flanders".

Maude: Come on, Ned! Move this thing!
Ned: I can't! It's a Geo!